Before my blog, before I graduated from college, before I decided to travel...I went to New York City to perform in Carnegie Hall. It was my very first time visiting The Big Apple. Nonetheless, my first time performing at such a prestigious concert venue. With my chosen major, I was not able to study abroad during college. However, I was so grateful for the opportunity this trip gave me. It was this trip that sparked my desire to one day travel the world. Luckily, I was glad that one of my best friends in college came along with me to experience the city together. One of the most memorable moments of this trip was watching my first Broadway production in NYC. I just wasn't expecting the man who sat next to me to be really cute.

My trip in Bicol was heartwarming. Every time I visit, I learn so much about my family and myself that I leave the Philippines in hopes of revisiting again. Despite the illness I encountered from my last post, I was still able to explore the province of where my parents grew up. If you ever decided to visit Bicol, one of the highlights from my trip was staying at The Oriental Hotel Legazpi.

Oriental is a great name and description for this hotel. The ambiance really gives off a luxurious style that enlightens guests about Asian culture. However, I was also impressed with how they fused contemporary design into their hotel rooms, lobby, and restaurant. As a tourist, I felt right at home in the Philippines.

It all started when I had lunch with my cousins. We planned on hanging out at the mall, and I suggested eating at a restaurant that catered to everybody's food preference. I ended up ordering a chicken meal with rice and macaroni salad. Everything tasted great, and my cousins and I even ended up watching a movie afterwards. It was another typical, great day with my family. As we ended the day grocery shopping, I didn't think there would be a problem until I immediately felt like fainting in the middle of the store.

During my travels in the Philippines, it was brought to my attention that I should stop by Palawan. Although I have heard of the beautiful beaches, I have never felt obliged to go in the past years. However, that changed this summer when I flew to Puerto Princesa and explored the island! Reflecting back, visiting Palawan was a huge highlight during my trip in the country, and it was worth every single penny.

Right when I landed, I went straight to the Underground River. Some of the things I learned from my tour guide was that the Underground River was considered the newest addition to the 7 Wonders of Nature in 2012. The name of the tour spot is misleading since there is no river underneath the ground, but rather, a river inside a cave. The area is also home to exotic types of animals, such as the monkeys, eagles, and insects that are only found within the island. I really felt like I was inside of a travel channel show as I was sitting down in my tour boat waiting for the tour to begin.​